Automobile door hinge



June 29, 1943. F HA MON EAL 2,322,933

AUTOMOBILE DOOR HINGE Filed March 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 29, 1943. J HARMON ETAL 2,322,933

AUTOMOBILE DOOR HINGE Filed March 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 29, 1943.

J. F. HARMON ETAL 2,322,933

AUTOMOBILE noon HINGE Filed March 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 29, 1943.

-J. F. HARMON ETAL AUTOMOBILE noon HINGE Filed March 10, 1941 iii 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 rim/01v I Patented June 29, 1943 2.32am. AUTOMOBILE noon nnv'oa Joseph F. Harmon and George more to The Atwood Vacuum Machine Company, Rockford. cogdposed of Seth B. Atwood and James '1. At-

!ord, Ill., assi Application March 10, 1941, Serial No.

20 Claims.

This invention relates automobile door hinge of the concealed type.

whereas in another embodiment the spring allows tree opening movement and resists closing movement only through a certain rang Another important object consists in the provision of a spring action hinge of the kind mentioned in which the hold-back spring serves also as a door check, the spring being subjected to compression throughout one range of movement to resist closing of the door and being subjected to tension through a small range at the limit oi. opening movement for door check action.

Still another object consists in the provision in a hinge of the kind last described of a stop for positively limiting the opening movement so as to avoid tensioning 01' the hold-back spring.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.- 1 isa horizontal section through an automobile door hinge embodying our invention, the door being shown closed;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 1 but showing the door opened;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 01' Fix. 1:

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail on the line l4 01 Fig. 2;

Figs. 4a and 4b are sections similar to Figs. 1 and. 2, respectively, illustrating another holdback structure;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 1, showing still another hold-back structure.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section like Fig. 5 but showing the door at the end of the opening movement;

Fig. 7 is another section like Fig. 6 but showing the parts in a diilerent relationship to better illustrate the action of the hold-back spring, and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views corresponding to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, respectively, but illustrating another construction.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, ll designates a portion of the body and I! a portion 01' the door 1!. Johnson, Rock-- 111.. a eopartnership proximately from for the pintle 23 received in a bearing hole 2| provided therefor in the enlarged end portion 22' of the inner hinge member I5. The walls It and I! are also flanged outforming supports outer hinge member I to the body pillar, a portion 01 which appears at 24. A sheet metal face plate 25 suitably welded to the attaching portions 23, is cut away as at 26 to provide operating clearance for the inner hinge member Ii.

on which the end 34 ranged to engage when of the spring 3| is arthe door is nearly fully 2 opened, as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby to support the end 34 during the slight stretching to which the spring may be subjected when it acts as a door check. Lugs 39 are shown projecting inwardly toward one another from the edges of the top and bottom walls l6 and I! of the outer hinge member H to serve as limit stops to be engaged by the inner hinge member l5 at the limit of the door opening movement, whereby to avoid excessive stretching of the spring 3| in the door check action thereof.

In operation, it should be clear that as the door I2 is opened, the end 34 of the spring moves outwardly in the slot 35 and the spring also turns relative to the inner hinge member IS on its end 32 as a pivo The door opens freely through approximately 30, as indicated by the word free" in Fig. 1, and in this movement the end 34 of the spring reaches the outer end oi the slot 35. During the next approximately 45 of door opening movement, the spring 3| is subjected first to compression during the first half of this range and then expansion back to normal shape during the other half of this range, the compression and expansion being due to the fact that the end 32 moves along the arc w-b when the other end 34 pivots in the outer end of the slot 35, the distance from that point to the are -1) being less than the distance between the ends 32 and 34 of the spring in its undistorted condition. This 45 range has been labeled hold-back," inasmuch as in the closing of the door the spring is subjected to compression during the first half of this 45 range and the spring 3| by that resistance to door closing movement serves as a. hold-back. In the final approximately 5 range of door opening movement the spring 3| is subjected to tensioning as indicated by the word tension in Fig. 2, the end 34 of the spring resting on the shoulder 38 for support during this stretching. In that way the spring serves as a door check in addition to a hold-back. The spring is not usually kept under tension but the door will ordinarily return enough to relieve it of any appreciable tension. The door is held open by the resistance of the spring 3| which, as previously stated, must be compressed thereto approximately halfl of the 45 holdback range indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. This resistance is easily enough to prevent accidental closing of the door either by gravity or ordinary wind pressure, or both. The spring 3| is safe-guarded against excessive stretching in its door check action by the positive stop afforded by the lugs 39 which engage the side of the inner hinge member l5 in the limit of the door opening movement. In the closing of the door once the hold-back range is passed the door swings freely through the last approximately 30 to closed position. The end 34 of the spring in this final movement slides freely in the slot 35 back to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The construction disclosed in Figs. 4a and 4b is similar to that just described. The hinge |3c has its outer and inner hinge members numbered accordingly I40 and |5c respectively. The hold-back spring 3|c is of fiat, zig-zag or generally W-shape. Its radially inner end 32 is pivoted in a. hole 33 in the inner hinge member, whereas the radially outer end 34 is' slidably and pivotally engaged in a slot 350 provided in the upper wall |6c of the outer hinge member I40, the spring 3|c like the spring 3| is preferably, although not necessarily. made engage from round spring wire, and the main body portion of the spring is all in substantially the same horizontal plane so as to fit in the space left between the upper edge 36 of the inner hinge member and the bottom surface of the upper wall. The slot 35c is of uniform width but has a small shoulder 38 provided on one side thereof near the end remote from the pintle 20 on which the end 34 of the spring is arranged to when the door is given its initial closing movement, whereby to resist closing thereof. Opposite the shoulder 38 there is another shoulder 45 on which the pivot 34 engages at the limit of door opening movement, as indicated in Fig. 4b, thus insuring engagement of the pivot 34 with the shoulder 38 in the initial closing movement.- The lugs 39 provided on the top and bottom walls of the outer hinge member serve as limitstops to be engaged by the inner hinge member at the limit of the door opening movement, whereby to avoid excessive stretching or spreading of the spring 3|c in the door check action thereof.

In operation the door swings open freely, as shown by the approximately 90 free movement indicated in Fig. 4b, the end 34 of the spring being movable freely outwardly in the slot 350 in the opening of the door. The spring 3 c at the limit of opening movement is stretched, as indicated by the word tension in Fig. 4b, to serve as a door check, the stretching of the spring being positively limited by the engagement of the inner hinge member with the'lugs 39. In the initial closing movement, the end 34 engages the shoulder 38 and the spring Sic is therefore subjected to compression through approximately 45 of the closing movement and expands again in the remainder of the closing movement, the end 34 finally becoming disengaged ,from the shoulder 38 and moving toward the inner end of the slot 350 as shown in Fig. 4a.

Referring now to Figs. 5-7, the hinge |3a shown in these views is generally the same as the hinge |3 of Figs. 1-4 and its outer and inner hinge members have accordingly been numbered Ma and l5a, respectively. The hold-back spring 3|a, however, is of a flat generally spiral form. The radially outer end 32 of the spring is pivoted in a hole 33 in the inner hinge member |5a, whereas the inner end 34 of the spring is slidably and pivotally engaged in an arcuate slot 35a provided in the upper wall |6a of the outer hinge member Ma. The spring 3|a, like the spring 3|, is preferably, although not necessarily, made from round spring wire. The spiral main body portion of the spring is all in substantially the same horizontal plane to fit in the small space left between the upper edge 36 of the inner hinge member |5a and the bottom surface of the upper wall lfia. The slot 35a is of uniform width except at one end where it is enlarged to provide the shoulder 38a. The end 32 of the spring travels along the arc c-d in the door opening and closing movements.

In operation, when the door is closed the spring 3|a is disposed as shown in Fig. 5. When the door is opened the first 30 range of movement is free, as indicatedin Fig. 6, as the end 34 slides freely in the slot 35a, but in the next 45 range of movement the spring is subjected first to compression as the end 32 moves toward dead center alignment with the pintle 20 and end 34, the spring thereafter expanding again until the door reaches the fully opened position in which it is illustrated in Fig. ,6. The end 34 .01 free movement of the spring is movable freely in the enlarged end of the slot and this approximately is indicated in Fig. 7 where the end 34 is shown moved over into abutment with the shoulder 33a defined in the enlarged end shoulder prevents the end 34 from returning freely to the other end of the slot when the door closes. The spring is, therefore, supported for compression again through the first half of the approximately 45 of the holdback range indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. After the end 32 passes the dead center position relative to the pintle 23 and end 34, the end 34 will slide away from the shoulder 38a toward the adjacent end of the slot 35a and thereafter as previously described in regard to the spring 3| in Fig. 2. The range for the door check action is labeled tension similarly as in Fig. 2. The lugs 39 limit the stretching of the spring 3la similarly as in the case of the spring 3| by engagement with the inner hinge member lid and. of course, immediately after the engagement of the hinge member with the lugs 33 the hinge member will return slightly, thus relieving the spring of tension.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate another flat spiral spring 3lb in connection with a hinge l3b that is similar to the hinges previously described, the outer and inner hinge members being accordingly numbered Nb and l5b, respectively. The slot 35b in the upper wall lGb of the outer hinge member in this case is of a different form from either the slots 35 and 35a previously described, this one being substantially v-shaped and enlarged at both ends to provide a shoulder 38b at one end similar to the shoulders 38 and 38a of the other constructions. The other half of the slot 35b is flared outwardly to the substantially triangular form indicated at 40. Now, the end 32 of the spring fitting in the hole 33 in the inner hinge member I52) moves along the arc e-f while the other end 34 of the spring works in the slot 35b. Of course, it is understood that the spring 3Ib like the other springs 3| and 3| a is preferably, although not necessarily, of round spring wire with the main spiral body portion thereof all substantially in the same horizontal plane to work in the small space between the upper edge 36 of the inner hinge member and the bottom surface of the upper wall I 6b.

In operation, the spring 3lb offers no resistance throughout any portion of the opening movement of the door due to the fact that there is no compression of the spring in the opening movement. movement moves along an arc with the pintle as a center into engagement with the side 4| of the flared end 40 of the slot 35b as indicated by the dotted lines and arrows in Fig. 8. Then, as the door continues in the opening movement the end 34 first moves inwardly toward the pintle 20 as the end 32 comes toward a dead center line through the pintle 20 and end 34 after which the further opening movement of the door the end 34 moves outwardly along the side 4| of the slot as indicated by the dotted lines and arrows in Fig. 8. Finally, when the door reaches the fully open position the end 34 of the spring has reached the other end of Fig. 9. Here again,

end 32 approaches the the end 34 and pintle closing movement is for cient as in the other 20. This resistance to hold-back and is suflisprings previously ,dedoor from closing accidentally. After the end 32 passes the dead center line the spring expands again, thus assisting in the final closing movement. The end "34 immediately after the end 32 passes the dead center line returns to the adjacent end of the slot 35b and thereafter, when the door has closed far enough for the spring to return to its normal shape, the end 34 travels along an arc with the pintle 20 as a center andmoves past the shoulder 38b into the other half of the slot 35b as indicated by the dotted lines and arrows in Fig. 10. When the door reaches closed position the end 34 of the spring is in the position shown in Fig. 8,,ready for the next cycle of movements.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of our invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

We claim:

1. In combination, a hinge comprising a generally ii-shaped outer member, and an inner member pivoted on a pintle disposed in approximately relation to and supported on the arms of the U-shaped outer member, there being a space left between the one edge of the inner hinge member and an adjacent arm of the outer hinge member, said hinge members being movable relative to one another through approximately 90", and a bow spring for yieldingly restraining' pivotal movement of one hinge member relative to the other, saidspring being disposed in said space in a plane approximately parallel to the edge of the inner hinge member and adjacent arm of the outer hinge member, the opposite ends of said spring having integral pivot portions provided thereon projecting substantially at right angles to the plane of the spring, the one pivot portion being pivotally received in a bearing provided therefor in the edge portion of the inner hinge member and the other pivot portion projecting in the opposite direction from the spring and being slidably and pivotally engaged in a slot provided in the adjacent arm of the outer hinge member.

2. In combination, a hinge comprising a pair of hinge members pivoted relative to one another for relative pivotal movement through approximately 90, and a bow spring having one end pivoted to one of said hinge members radially being subjected upon from the hinge axis, the other having a sliding and pivotal connectioniwith the other hinge member at different radial distances from the hinge axis, said sliding and pivotal connection including means for limiting sliding movement of the slidable end of the bow spring radially with respect to the hinge axis so that unconstrained pivotal movement of said hinge members is permitted only through a portion of the 90 pivotal movement, said bow spring end thereof by the aforesaid means to compression in the movement of one tive to the other through a portion of the remainder of the 90 pivotal movement, said spring expanding again in at least a portion of the balance of the 90 pivotal movement.

3; The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the sliding pivotal connection also includes means cooperating with the slidable end of the bow spring near the end of the opening movement of the hinge members releasably to hold said slidable end against sliding whereby said spring is adapted to be spread when the hinge members approach the end of the opening movement yieldingly to resist said movement.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the sliding pivotal connection also includes means cooperating with the slidable end of the bow spring near the end of the opening movement of the hinge members releasably to hold said slidable end against sliding whereby said spring is adapted to be spread when the hinge member approach the end of the opening movement yieldingly to resist said movement, the combnation including a stop for positively limiting the opening movement of said hinge members when the spring is spread to a predetermined extent. 7

5. In combination, a hinge comprising a pair of hinge members pivoted relative to one another for relative pivotal movement through approximately 90", and a bow spring having one end pivoted to one of said hinge members radially from the hinge axis, the other hinge member having a slot provided therein, and said spring having the other end thereof provided with a protruding end portion engaging slidably and pivotally in said slot at different radial distances from the hinge axis, said =s1ot permitting limited sliding movement of said protruding end portion of said how spring in a radial direction relative to the hinge axis less than that required for unconstrained pivotal movement of said hinge members through 90, whereby unconstrained pivotal movement of one hinge member relative to the other is permitted only through a portion or the 90 movement, said how spring being subjected upon stoppage of said protruding end portion thereof at one'end of said slot to compression in the movement of one hinge member relative to the other through a portion of the remainder of the 90 pivotal movement, and said spring expanding again in'at least a portion of the balance of the movement.

6. The combination set forthin claim wherein the slot has an offset provided therein defining a shoulder on one side of the slot in one end portion thereof on which said protruding end portion of said spring is arranged to engage when the hinge members are opened to a point near the end of the opening movement of the hinge members, whereby said spring is adapted to be spread when the hinge members approach stoppage of the slidable hinge member relaendof said sprint the end of the opening movement yieldingly to resist said movement.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the slot has an offset provided therein defining a shoulder on one side of the slot in one end portion thereof on which said protruding end portion of said spring is arranged to engage when the hinge members are opened to a point near the end of the opening movement of the hinge members, whereby said spring is adapted to be spread when the hinge members approach the end of the opening movement yieldingly to resist said movement, the combination including a stop for positively limiting the opening movement of said hinge members when the spring is spread to a predeterminedextent.

8. In combination a hinge comprising a pair of hinge members pivoted relative to one another for relative pivotal movement through approximately 90, and a bow spring having one end pivoted to one of said hinge members radially from the hinge axis, the other end of said spring having a sliding and pivotal connection with the other hinge member at different radial distances from the hinge axis, said sliding and pivotal connection permitting free movement of the slidable endof the bow spring in one direction with respect to the hinge axis in the opening hinge movement through 90, said sliding and pivotal connection including means cooperating with the slidable end of the bow spring at the end of the opening movement of the hinge members to stop sliding movement of said slidable end, said sliding and pivotal connection further including means arranged to cooperate with the slidable end of the bow spring in the first portion of the closing movement of the hinge members relative to one another to stop sliding movement of the slidable end of said spring, whereb s' said spring is subjected to compression during a portion of the closing movement, said spring expanding again in at least a portion of the balance of the closing movement.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein the sliding and pivotal connection comprises a slot provided in one of the hinge members, and wherein the first and second means cooperating with the slidable end of the bow spring comprise ofiset portions defining shoulders on opposite sides of saidslot intermediate the ends of the slot for engagement with the slidable end of the spring as limiting stops.

10. In combination, a hinge comprising a pair of hinge members pivoted relative to one another for relative pivotal movement through approximately and a bow spring having one end pivoted to one of said hinge members radially from the hinge axis, the other end of said spring having a sliding and pivotal connection with the of the opening movement of the hinge members to stop sliding movement of said slidable end, said spring while stopped by said means being adapted to be spread in any additional opening movement of the hinge members, so that the spring yieldingly resists such further opening movement, said sliding and pivotal connection further including means arranged to cooperate with the slidable end of the bow spring in the first portion of the closing movement of the hinge members relative to one another to stop sliding movement of the slidable end of said spring, whereby said spring is subjected to compression during a portion of the closing movement, said spring expanding again in at least a portion of the balance of the cloesing movement.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 including a stop for positively limiting said additional opening movement of the hinge when the spring has been spread to a predetermined extent. a

12. In combination, a hinge comprising a pair of hinge members pivoted relative to one another for relative pivotal movement through approximately 90, and a bow spring having one end pivoted to one of said hinge members radially from the hinge axis, the other end of said spring substantially arcuately with respect to the hinge axis so pivotal movement, said sliding and pivotal connection including means cooperating with the slidable end of the bow spring when the hinge members are closed to an intermediate extent, whereby to permit only pivotal movement of the slidable end of the bow spring in the intermediate range of pivotal movement of the hinge members so that said bow spring is subjected to compression in the relative movement of the hinge members through a portion of the closing movement in said intermediate range, said spring expanding again in the balance of the closing movement in said intermediate range.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 where'n the sliding and pivotal connection comprises a slot provided in one of said hinge members to receive the slidable end of the bow spring, said slot being extended'eccentn'cally with respect to the hinge' axis, one end portion of the slot being enlarged so as to define a shoulder therein on one side thereof for engagement by the slidable end of the bow spring to stop sliding movement thereof but permit pivotal movement thereof.

14. In combination, a hinge comprising a pair hinge members pivoted relative to one another for relative pivotal movement through approximateiy 90, and a bow spring having one end pivoted to one of said hinge members radially from the hinge axis, the other end of said spring having a sliding and pivotal connection with the other hinge member at different radial distances hinge axis, said sliding and pivotal permitting limited free sliding movemcnt of the slidable end of the bow spring substantially arcuately with respect to the hinge ax's so as to permit free pivotal movement of the hinge members with respect to one another through certain angularities at opposite ends of the 90 pivotal movement, the slidable end of said sp;ing cooperating with abutment means to limit the free opening movement of the hinge members, sa'd spring being adaped to be spread in any addit'onal opening movement of the hinge members, so that said spring yieldingly resists of the bow spring in the inter pivotal movement of the hinge said bow spring is subjected to 16. In combination, a hinge comprising a pair of hinge members pivoted relative to one another for relative pivotal movement through approximately and a bow spring having one end pivoted to one of said hinge members ramembers 'pivotally connected for hinging movement through approximately 90 relative to one permit only pivotal movemem between said hinge members in a plane approximately parallel to said edge portion of the one hinge member and said spaced portion of the other hinge member, the opposite ends of said spring having integral pivot portions provided thereon projecting substantially at right angles to the plane of the spring, the one pivot portion being pivotally received in a bearing provided therefor in one of said hinge members and the other pivot portion projecting in the opposite direction from the spring and being slidably and pivotally engaged in a slot provided in the other of said hinge members. a I

19. The combination set forth in claim 18, wherein the slot is provided with means cooperating with thepivot portion of said bow spring projecting into said slot near the end of the opening movement of the hinge members relative to one another whereby said bow spring is the opening movement of the hinge members relative to one another whereby said how spring is adapted to be spread when the hinge members approach the end of the opening movement yieldingiy to resist further pivotal movement of said hinge members, the combination including a stop for positively limiting the pivotal movement when the spring is spread to a predetermined extent.

JOSEPH F. HARMON. GEORGE H. JOHNSON.

provided with means 00-. 

